I mentioned in a small blurb the other day that I was quitting coffee. Cold turkey. The heartburn has been atrocious (Do you know how long it took me to find the correct spelling for that? Spell checker even had no idea what I was trying to say). I knew it was the coffee because the heartburn would come on before I even had the chance to finish the damn cup.
The past three days have been blurry, headachy and miserable (more then usual), and since coffee is really the only caffeine intake first thing in the morning – since I’ve cut back while being pregnant – there haven’t been afternoon Diet Cokes anymore either. I hadn’t thought to substitute my lack of coffee and pop with something else caffeine laden.
Bring on the withdrawal symptoms.
By the end of day yesterday it had become so unbearable that once I got home, I laid on the couch IN PAIN. I couldn’t believe the headache pain. It was like someone was attempting to scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon, squeezing my head in a vice, like the hamster got off the wheel and decided to use my brain as a trampoline.
Expressive enough?
Mike came to check on me and see if he could get me something: water, Tylenol, something to eat.
“I need Pepsi. Real Pepsi.” was all I could muster.
With a quizzical look he walked away and retrieved a can of cold liquid sugar and caffeine (read: Liquid Gold) from the fridge. Mmmm caffeine.
Within minutes the headache had subsided and the pain was gone.
Now why did I think that cutting out coffee, which gave me horrible heartburn, meant that all caffeine intake must be abolished? I could substitute with a cafe mocha, a cappuccino.. SOMETHING with CAFFEINE!
This morning I opted for a French Vanilla Cappuccino and was able to finish it all: heartburn has yet to set in. I may be in the clear on this one.
Though, I think I’ve learned my lesson.
Coffee = Bad (for now).
Caffeine = Necessity.
Quitting caffeine is like trying to quit watching The Real Housewives of Orange County: not in this life time.
sizzle says:
I quit coffee back my early 20s because I felt too reliant on it. By mid-day I needed more. So I switched to green tea and now I drink black tea in the mornings. I do miss coffee though because I LOVE the taste. Sometimes I’ll have a cup if I am out for breakfast but the strangest thing happens now…I want to take a nap! It makes me sleepy!
Isn’t that bizarre?
Good luck trying to quit. You can do it!
sizzle’s last blog post..Flushed With Uncertainty
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:13 am
samarama ding dong says:
sizzle: That is bizarre!!
I too love the taste of coffee and I think it’s more of a habit form that I have to break. I am so used to getting and having one and when I go through the drive thru, it’s the first thing that I order.
But! Good news is it should only be for another 2 months and then *hopefully* the heartburn is completely gone once The Baby arrives.
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
justmylife says:
Caffeine withdrawal headaches are the worst! I tried to give up my beloved coffee and tea, found it was impossible! I will just have to keep my caffeine, though I understand why you gave up coffee.
justmylife’s last blog post..Random thoughts runnig throgh my head…..
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Lexi says:
I couldn’t do it, even when pregnant. I just love coffee too much!
Although that could explain the heartburn. Obviously I didn’t make the connection!
Lexi’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Lexi says:
PS I wonder if that new folgers ‘mild’ stuff that’s supposed to be easier on your stomach would be any better…
Lexi’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
samarama ding dong says:
justmylife: Yes. Must. Keep. Caffeine.
I’ve been doing rather well with cutting out the coffee… but I had I thought about replacing the caffeine intake by something else I’d probably be doing better! LOL
Lexi: Ya, coffee can be a MAJOR culprit for heartburn. Though, I think just about everything can be while pregnant.
I never get heartburn any other time, so I really hope that I can have my coffee back after giving birth! I had to check and see if the Folgers Simply Smooth available in Canada, and they just started it here! I may have to give it a try. *Apparently* it’s the only one of it’s kind here so far.
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March 13th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Karen Sugarpants says:
Oh that is so tough to do. I was down to half a cup till I had a bad day and got a Quad Venti Sugar Free Vanilla Skinny Latte – and BAM! Back to square one. That’s like drinking 4 cups of coffee in one. I was up till 5 a.m. that night/morning!
I think the trick is gradual but I LOVE my Starbucks. I may never kick it totally.
Karen Sugarpants’s last blog post..Star Wars According To A Three Year Old
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March 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
ali says:
caffeine is the nectar of the gods.
ali’s last blog post..she CAN be bribed…and i would make a good roommate…i swear…
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March 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Jennifer says:
Have you watched Real Wives of New York???!!! I can’t stop watching these people and feeling both love and hate for them all.
Glad the heartburn is better!
Jennifer’s last blog post..How Do Cable Companies Get Away With Telling Us They’ll Be There Between 8 and Never
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March 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Redneck Mommy says:
I would kill little people without my caffeine.
I don’t care what form it comes in, I just need it.
Redneck Mommy’s last blog post..Big Love
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March 13th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Jenn says:
Good to find a balance, lots of milk to try to calm the heartburn.
Jenn
Jenn’s last blog post..Etsy- My New Love
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March 14th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Jeannette says:
LOL
I pictured lying there, on your deathbed. Then in an exhausted and painful voice you whisper, “Pepsi. I need Pepsi.”
Dude, you are too funny!
Jeannette’s last blog post..Hot Cock Sauce
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March 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
samarama ding dong says:
Karen: It’s HARD, so hard!! That one hit will take you right back.
I usually don’t like Starbucks, but now I LOVE the vanilla bean frappuccino.I cold drink them ALL. DAY. LONG.
ali: Totally. But that means so much more coming from you: Miss. I-drink-sixty-coffees-a-day.
Jennifer: OMG NO!! I didn’t know there was a New York version! Oh, I sooooo have to find that.
(Canada remember. Not sure if it’s showing here yet.)
RNM: Why do I sense that you’re completely telling the truth when you say you’d eat small children?
Jenn: That’s true. Maybe if I chug my coffee, then chug a HUGE milk after it will even out.
Jeannette: That’s TOTALLY how I felt!! Hahahaha
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March 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Candy says:
My sister and I went to visit our parents after they had retired, in Arizona. After two days, we both had the WORST headaches, and no matter what we took, it wouldn’t go away.
We went to the grocery store to shop for them, and passed the coffee aisle, and it dawned on us both what was wrong. Mom and Dad were living a caffeine-free lifestyle and forcing it down our throats!
We immediately bought two Cokes each, and began our recovery.
Candy’s last blog post..Two…Two…Two posts in one day
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March 14th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Haley-O says:
Haha! I can totally relate! I soo need to quit my chais. The sugar. The caffeine. But, not in this lifetime. my chai teas are like your Housewives of Orange County!
I’ve never been able to really get into that show….
Haley-O’s last blog post..Point Form
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March 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
samarama ding dong says:
Candy: It’s really strange how that happens, and not even all the Tylenol or Advil in the world can stop the headaches.
Haha, I have this mental image of you and your sister standing in the coffee aisle scarfing down cans of coffee grains once you figured out the reason for the headaches.
Haley: Though, when you did try and cut back, I’m surprised that you never mentioned any headaches! Must have been substituting with something else?
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March 15th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Dawn says:
I can’t quit the Real Housewives of the OC, but I CAN (and did!) quit watching the RHO NYC! That show is seriously suffering in comparison to the original!
Dawn’s last blog post..Catch a Wave (or some food or spit up…)
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March 15th, 2008 at 4:53 pm